The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-03-23
A SOCIAL PROBLEM.
A Philosopher Explains Why Few Real Men
Are Found in "Society."

New York Graphic.
How to catch men alive for social purposes
that is the real question of interest to the Amer
lean woman, and a very grave question it is. and
if they would drop their meetings for promul
eating the cause of womans rights and for
teaching the wild Africans to wear corsets and
for urging the injurious effects of gingerpop
and really give themselves up to considering the
reason why American men won't go into society.
they would be acting far more practically well
more sincerely. Of course, it is easy to solve
all mysterious social phenomena in this country
by saying we are a commercial people, and that
answers the purpose to a degree in this case, but
it is hard to see why that sad fact need throw
quite such deep gloom over our efforts at fes-
tivity.
The Observer listened to two bright women
discuss the question, the other day. and the
younger said: ''The great trouble with society,
the reason large gatherings are not successful is
that in the circles | know the right men and the
right women don't meet" "Oh, that is always
so. never knew any circles in which they did :"
said the other But it is dreadful" persisted
Miss; "it is as hard the side the
other; the bright men who won't exist would
certainly be glad to know the women know,
but the women / know meet, for the most part.
only impossible old buffers and boys at the liter
airy receptions and evenings they go to- | sup
pose" she continued, "that it is better in the
extremely fashionable frivolous society that 1t is
frequented by males and females of the same
species" She had been reading Charles Reade,
you see.
"Not bit of it," rejoined Madam, II WAS talk
ing only this week to young woman who moves
in that society, and who is tired of it that she
is all but ready to run away with the coachman.
Why, don't you have good timer said to her.
"A good time replied this daughter Of sixty
millions, does anyone suppose | have good
timea Men! don't see nice men2 never see
man! Ships, ships. tell you, are all that ever
come to these balls" Now the question is why
do bright and entertaining men prefer sitting at
their clubs to dancing with the daughter of sixty
millions, or exchanging badnage with bright
and pretty girl without designs? All, there is
the rub! Is she without designs, or, that being
granted, is she to be found at
all when looked tori The question
of designs is a grave one. The unpleasant
fact is that civilization has fostered habits of
pursuit on the part Of our females that have de-
veloped habits of warness in our males; we are
not as bad in this respect the English, but
then again neither have our men the cool, ungal-
liant habits of ef-protection of Englishmen. We
are also too provincial in our habit of attaching
matrimonial significance to civilities that should
pass as the mere courtesies and graces of ordi-
| nary intercourse and thus the danger to the I'M
married and manageable men in society are in
creased. In some circles there is a considerable
and increasing class of women to whom marriage
is not the paramount political necessity it has
been made in the past who ready to marry
when it pleases them and not before and not
cOerced by bitter necessity fear of social ohio
guy. And it is pity that their existence could
not do something to break down the general
view of women as always on the matrimonial
scent.